Hoyer Remarks at Press Availability on Democratic Efforts to Reopen the Government

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller, Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey, and Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen at a press availability this morning before Members of the Democratic Caucus signed a discharge petition that would allow a vote on the House Floor to reopen the government. Below is a transcript of his opening remarks:

“We’re now in the twelfth day of the government shutdown. We are just a few days from risking the creditworthiness of our country. It is time to open up this government [and] get government workers back to work serving the American people.

“This morning, Members of the Democratic Caucus, and, we hope, many Members of the Republican Caucus, will be walking through the House door this morning and signing a discharge petition. That discharge petition will make provisions for bringing to the Floor a bill introduced by a Republican – which Mr. Van Hollen and Mr. Miller will further describe – which simply says we should not have a shutdown.

“Then, we ought to act that way, and not shut down the government. We have the opportunity to do it this morning. We’re going to take that opportunity this morning. We hope our Republican colleagues will join us so that we can open up government this day.”